AYV News, March 5, 2026
Former senior All People’s Congress (APC) Party’s Cabinet Minister, Alpha Kanu, now Presidential Spokesman in the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) led government, has publicly criticised the decision of the APC to stay away from parliamentary proceedings, describing the move as a serious political miscalculation.
Speaking during an interview on AYV’s Wake UpSierra Leone programme, Kanu argued that by absenting themselves from Parliament, APC lawmakers are denying their constituents the opportunity to be represented in national deliberations.
“The APC is clearly making a big mistake. Staying out of Parliament and not taking part in the deliberations, they are denying the people their voice in these deliberations,” he said.
Kanu stressed that parliamentary seats do not belong to individual politicians or political parties but to the citizens who elected them. He maintained that elected representatives have a constitutional and moral obligation to participate in legislative business on behalf of the electorate.
“These seats in Parliament do not belong to them or us; they belong to the people,” he stated, warning that prolonged absence could have consequences.
He further noted that if opposition Members of Parliament remain absent for an extended period, mechanisms exist within the law that could allow for other representatives to be appointed to ensure constituents are not left without a voice.
The APC recently announced a boycott of governance activities in protest over the appointment of Edmond Sylvester Alpha as Chairman of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), a decision that has heightened political tensions between the ruling government and the main opposition party.
Political observers say the ongoing standoff underscores the need for dialogue and constructive engagement to prevent further strain on parliamentary operations and democratic governance in Sierra Leone.
